Wartsila Corporation has announced a major contract to supply engines for 12 of the world’s largest ore carriers. The ore carriers will be built by Rongsheng Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries of China. Each vessel will contain 7 Wartsila RT-flex82T low speed engines and have the capacity of 400,000 deadweight tonnes.

The RT-flex82T engine is one of four new engine types developed by Wärtsilä. The engine features an 820 millimeter cylinder bore and an electronically-controlled RT-flex common rail system.

According to the company, the RT-flex common-rail technology benefits ship owners by providing greater flexibility in engine setting for reduced fuel consumption, lower minimum running speeds, smokeless operation at all running speeds and better control of other exhaust emissions.

Once built, the ships will be used on a shuttle service carrying iron ore to East Asia. The first of the ships is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2011 and the order is expected to be completed in 2012.